V-22 Osprey

Flight Controls

The V-22 has both conventional airplane and conventional tandem rotor helicopter control surfaces. The primary flight controls consist of cyclic sticks located in front of each pilot, thrust control levers (TCLs) mounted to the left of each seat, and floor-mounted directional pedals. These controls are part of a fully digital, electronic, fly-by-wire system. Because the system is completely digital, the V-22 flight control system offers exceptional flexibility to incorporate the actuator control command for both fixed wing and rotary wing control surfaces and provides a smooth transition between helicopter and airplane flight modes.

Airplane Controls

Full-span control surfaces

Combination flap/aileron (flaperon)

Rudder

Elevator

Proprotor pitch controlled automatically though TCL input

Reduces flapping

Maintains constant RPM

Helicopter Controls

Proprotor blades are primary flight control

Thrust Control Lever (TCL) is throttle and collective pitch

Extensive research has been performed using pilot simulation to design an intuitive and comfortable set of cockpit controls. The figures below illustrate the effects of each pilot control input on aircraft motions in both helicopter and airplane modes.